HikeVentures

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HikeVentures is an outdoor blog which focuses on hiking, packrafting, snowshoeing, cycling and urban microadventures. On the blog, the team shares their hiking and packrafting adventures and publish trip reports and gear reviews. They also use the blog to connect with other outdoor minded people.

Here is my selection of the best lightweight camera bags for the Sony A7III, A7II A7RII, A7SII or A9 (and also a6500, a6300 or a6000 since they share a similar form factor).

I have created this list since I recently upgraded my camera to a Sony A7III and wanted to share my findings with you.

So what to consider when buying a new bag for your camera? Different bags might be useful for various activities, e.g. you might take a different camera bag with you when you go hiking than when you would go on a kayaking trip or just walk around in the city.

The Lowepro Photo Sport 300 AW II is not the lightest selection in this list but I wanted to add a backpack option as well in case you are planning to carry more gear with you. The Lowepro Photo Sport 300 AW II is especially suitable if you are an active outdoor person e.g. hiking, biking, climbing or snowboarding.

This backpack comes with a toploading compartmentto where you can store items for a day trip. Moreover, you can also pack a 2-liter Camelbak or Platypus reservoir into th backpack.

To protect your gear from the elements such as rain or snow you can cover the backpack with an built-in All Weather AW Cover.

There are also multiple attachment points allow you to secure extra gear to the pack (e.g. a tripod or trekking pole).

S-ZONE Camera Insert Bag

Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 4 inches

The S-Zone camera insert bag is a great option if you have already a backpack and just need something to protect your camera gear.

It’s not expensive and you can combine it with any other bag. It’s also listed as a Amazon’s Choice product. I have the Thule Upslope backpack for my winter day trips where the S-ZONE camera insert bag could fit perfectly.

Aquapac Waterproof SLR Camera Case

Weight: 216 grams / 0.47 lbsDimensions: 3.94 x 9.84 x 17.72 inches

The Aquapac Waterproof SLR Camera Case is 100% waterproof to IPX8 and can be submerged to 5m for 30 mins.

The Aquacase case also features an optically-clear acrylic lens for clear pictures.

The case will also float on the water with your camera in it, but Aquapac mentions that you should test the case with your camera before you take the case into the field.

The Gitzo Adventury 30L DSLR camera bag is the Red Dot Award winner 2019 and is probably a good choice if you are looking for a premium outdoor backpack for outdoor activities as it has been designed for bird, wildlife, nature and landscape photographers in mind. Beside a DSLR you can also pack a 70-200 mm lens into the backpack as well as another camera body and up to 4 lenses. Moreover, you can also carry a 13” laptop or a iPad Pro 9 inch into the backpack. There are also spots to attach additional accessories to the backpack. The backpack is water repellent and comes with a rain cover.

Lowepro Nova Sport 7L AW Camera Bag

Weight: 500 grams / 1.1 lbsDimensions: 7.48 x 6.89 x 9.84 inches

The Lowepro Nova Sport 7L AW is a camera bag with a removable camera insert.

It is available in red and gray and can also store a tablet. The Nova Sport 7L also comes with an all weather cover, so it’s perfect for hiking trips.

However, if you plan to go kayaking or packrafting, then it might be a better idea to store the Nova Sport in a dry sack.

ONA The Bowery Camera Bag

Weight: 635 grams / 1.4 lbsDimensions: 10 X 6 X 4 inches

The ONA Bowery Camera Bag has been handcrafted with premium waxed canvas and full-grain leather details. The camera can store one camera and one small lens.

Ortlieb Camera Bag Aqua Zoom

Weight: 340 grams / 0.75 lbsDimensions: 9.4 x 4.3 x 5.9 inches

The Ortlieb Camera Bag Aqua Zoom is dust and splash proof, but you should not submerge it under water.

Ortlieb Soft Shot Waterproof Camera Bag

Weight: 781 grams / 1.72 lbsDimensions: 21 X 27.5 X 15.5 inches

The Ortlieb Soft Shot Waterproof Camera Bag is a great bag if you plan to go on an adventure of if the weather is uncertain. The bag has a volume of 9.7 l.

Pelican 1200 Case

Weight: 1305 grams / 2.87 lbsDimensions: 9.25 x 7.12 x 4.12 inches

The Pelican 1200 case is a bit heavier than the other bags and cases, but it protects your camera not only from moisture but also from bumps.

The company claims that you can submerge the case 1 m for 30 minutes. The case also comes with foam which you can customize the case. The case has an atmospheric purge valve and a neoprene o-ring seal.

Thule Aspect DSLR/ILC Shoulder Bag

Weight: 550 grams / 1.2 lbsDimensions: 10.2 x 5.5 x 10.6 inches

Thule Aspect DSLR/ILC Shoulder Bag offers space for a mirrorless camera, one lens, and accessories. There are also side mesh pockets to store a small tripod or a water bottle.

There is a front-folding lid to access gear quickly, and smaller items can be organized there as well. A padded shoulder strap makes this camera bag comfortable to carry.

Thule Covert Camera Backpack

Weight: 400 grams / 0.88 lbsDimensions: 22 x 17.7 x 7.9 inches

The Thule Convert Camera Backpack offers space for a DSLR and an attached wide angle lens as well as two additional lenses and a flash.

The bag can also store a 15 inch MacBook and an iPad. The bag features a removable pod system. The fabric is water-repellent.

Thule Covert Camera Messenger Bag - Small

Weight: 880 grams / 1.94 lbsDimensions: 9.4 X 16.9 X 6.3 inches

The Thule Covert Camera Messenger Bag comes with a removable camera pod system and an iPad pocket. There is room for a compact DSLR and two lenses or a flash.

Best camera bags for hiking and backpacking

When I plan to go hiking or backpacking, I would like to have a camera bag where I can easily access my camera.

My camera bag should also be water resistant or waterproof if I don’t have space to carry my camera in my backpack in case the weather turns bad.

From my point of view there is no best camera bag which fits every situation but having the right camera gear for different activities is essential to protect your equipment and also to enjoy photography with your Sony A7III, A9 or a6500 more.

Recently, I have visited the second highest place in southern Finland called Kammiovuori which has a height of 221 meters.

221 meters doesn’t sound that impressive when you come from nearby the Alps (e.g. my home town Ravensburg is situated 450 meters above sea level) but considering that Finland is mostly flat it’s quite a good height.

It took us around 2 hours to drive from Järvenpää (which is about a 25 minutes drive from Helsinki towards the same direction) to Kammiovuori which is located at the Finnish Lakeland.

The closest National Park is the Päijänne National Park which I hope to visit as well in the future.

Once you arrive at the parking place you only have a short hike of about 2 km to reach the top of the hill (which is actually a 3.8 km round trail) where you can also find a wooden table and benches. There is also a Lavu along the trail where you can also find a hut with fire wood.

On the way to the top there are also a few other sights which you can visit - the seven meter high Linta boulder and the Cave of Hiskias.

Hiskias was said to be a vagaond who used to live in the cave in the last century while he was hiding from the authorities.

I really liked the scenery from the Kammiovuori and would be interested to visit again next autumn when the landscape will be covered with colorful trees.

In this blog post I would like to share how I created a Cinemagraph as in the example below out of a video footage from my Sony A7III with a Sony 24mm f1.4 lens in Final Cut Pro. Personally, I really like this effect and it’s really easy to do it yourself. There is also no need to buy any third party apps etc.

A while ago I was looking for a camping chair which is lightweight and packs small to take it on my packrafting or photography trips.

On the packrafting meetup in Sweden I met one guy who had a Helinox camping chair with him and after some test sitting I became interested to get one for myself and here is a short review about the Helinox Chair Zero which I received from Helinox for testing. Helinox is a company from Australia.

The Helinox Chair Zero weights only 500 grams and has a carrying capacity of 120 kg. What I really like on this chair is that you sit close to the ground (23 cm) which makes it very comfortable to sit in it for example close to a camp fire. It has the size of a plastic bottle when folded together and it can be set up quite fast.

Moreover, it also gives you the flexibility to use it for example under a tarp compared to a higher chair.

The Helinox Chair Zero has also been the ISPO Gold Award Winner in 2017. Moreover, the chair does not feel cheap, so I think the higher price tag is justified as it also comes with 5 years warranty.

Where would I take the Helinox Chair Zero?

Some may question if a chair is really necessary on a backpacking trip. Well, it depends. For ultralight freaks 500 grams might be too much.

Personally, I don’t mind carrying more gear with me if I can get comfort in exchange. But the comfort / weight ratio must be reasonable.

I could see such a chair perfectly on my packrafting trips. The advantage of packrafting is that you don’t have to carry the gear. I have an Alpacka Raft Gnarwhal and I can easily throw in all kind of gear into the cargo fly.

Where would I not take the Helinox Chair Zero?

Would I take the Helinox Chair Zero on a trip in the mountains. Well, I am not sure but from my experience when crossing the Alps from Germany to Italy, I realised that I would not appreciate having a heavy backpack on my back when walking up the mountains. In this case the chair would probably stay at home.

Accessories

The Helinox Chair Zero can also be equipped with accessories such as ball feet, ground sheet or a seat warmer. You can also get the Helinox Table One if you are looking for a foldable and light (690 grams) camping table.

You can get the Helinox Chair Zero here. More thoughts about the Helinox Chair Zero after more testing …